Her family has lived in Collingwood for seven generations.
For this week’s edition of People of Collingwood we spoke with Jennifer Young, 67, former banker and past chair with the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation.
Q: For how long have you lived in Collingwood?
A: I was born and raised in Collingwood. We left when I was about 13. When my husband and I were married, we moved back.
We’ve been here and there for the last 47 years.
I was a banker. We would go to places where we were transferred, like Belleville, Meaford, Alliston and Owen Sound.
We always came back to Collingwood.
Q: What is it about Collingwood that always made you want to come back?
A: Collingwood is home. There are seven generations of my family that have lived here.
It’s small town. It has anything you’d want to do here, with the skiing, the water and trails. My kids mostly grew up in Collingwood.
It’s a place where we want to be.
Q: You do work with the CGMH Foundation. Can you provide a brief overview of the work you’ve done with the foundation?
A: In 1996, I joined the hospital board. I was on the board until 2003. I started as a member, then moved to treasurer, vice-chair and chair.
Then, we were moved to Belleville for two years. As soon as we returned, I went to the foundation and spoke with them about joining the foundation board.
I started on a committee in 2007. From 2007 until now, I’ve done all kinds of jobs there.
I started on a committee of investments. Then, I got onto the board shortly thereafter as treasurer and worked my way up again to chair.
Now I’m working with the hospital on the redevelopment. We’re waiting to decide how until we get the nod from the government to go ahead.
Q: Why do you opt to donate your time to the hospital and the hospital foundation specifically?
A: I started mostly because my mom was born there, I was born there, my children were born there and my grandchildren were born there.
I wanted to give back to the community and I felt the Collingwood hospital was a really great place to give back.
It’s a place where everyone will go at some point. I wanted to make sure we keep our hospital, and do whatever I can to help that.
Q: Is there something you’ve been able to accomplish in your time volunteering with the hospital or foundation of which you’re most proud?
A: During my time on the hospital board, we were going through a really tough time between what was going on with the hospital and the board. Doctors and administration were frustrated. We had something called an intervention.
We were able to all come together and straighten out all of the issues so that everyone was working together again and I was very proud of the way we made that happen.
Q: What are your hopes for the hospital redevelopment?
A: I’m hoping we get a brand new hospital. If it doesn’t go on the green site, I will still be there trying to support that in any way I can.
Where we are right now, it’s going to be a real challenge because, what do you do with the patients when you’re trying to rebuild? What happens when they start to tear down, and all the noise? It’s going to be a struggle.
Whatever it is that the government decides, I’ll be there trying to support the hospital.
Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests?
A: Right now I’m also working with the (Trinity) United Church as their treasurer.
In the past, I’ve done United Way campaigns, and Rotary.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like people in Collingwood to know about you?
A: I have a husband and three boys, and six grandchildren. We love to be together as a family and support each other in every way we can.
For our feature People of Collingwood, we’ll be speaking with interesting people who are either from or are contributing to the Collingwood community in some way, letting them tell their own stories in their own words. This feature will run on CollingwoodToday every Saturday. If you’d like to nominate or suggest someone to be featured in People of Collingwood, email [email protected].
